North Norfolk New Year’s Eve 2024

Once again, we headed for the North Norfolk coast for the end of the year. Decent weather on arrival so a trek along the beach from Old Hunstanton in search of Glaucous Gull and Shorelarks although we saw neither.

Old Hunstanton, Sunny Hunny
Old Hunstanton, Sunny Hunny

The Glaucous Gull had been reported as feeding on a dead seal, we saw at least a couple of seal carcasses above the tideline, but perhaps too many people and dogs even for a brute like a Glaucous Gull to sit tight for a meal. It was reported on the 2nd January, so it was still around. Funnily enough, there are two Glaucous on the dump near our village at the moment, although no seals.

Black-winged Stilt, with copper ring on left shank. Fish supper in bill. RSPB Titchwell
A rather rare Black-winged Stilt, with copper ring on left shank. Fish supper in bill. RSPB Titchwell

From Sunny Hunny, we drove on towards Holkham and stopped briefly on Lady Anne’s Drive where a Long-billed Dowitcher had been spotted in previous days. I took photos of the much larger Black-tailed Godwits and other birds on the flood to the east of the Drive. The LBD is 11 inches bill to tail whereas the BTG is 17″). Once back home, I could zoom in on the long shots and could see I had got a snap of the LBD. So obviously smaller than the BTG but somewhat similar in appearance otherwise. It’s an American bird that presumably got lost and headed south down the wrong line of Latitude some time ago. They have been reported in North Norfolk previously and elsewhere in the UK.

Long-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus, Lady Anne’s Drive, Holkham

Once in Wells-next-the-Sea, we checked in at the Arch House Rooms in Wells (run by the Globe Inn) before a sunset walk through the town and out along the East Fleet and then on towards the lifeboat station. Amazing sunset.

Sunset, Wells-next-the-Sea
Sunset, Wells-next-the-Sea, 30th January 2024

We were back in time for a half-decent supper at the Globe Inn, although the pub was not quite as nice as we remembered it from a previous meal there a couple of years ago. But, at least we got fed, one couple didn’t get their choice of drinks, none of the food options they chose were available, and they walked out hangry.

Brent (Brant) Geese, Branta bernicla, East Fleet, Wells-next-the-Sea
Brent (Brant) Geese, Branta bernicla, East Fleet, Wells-next-the-Sea. The flock of ~200 took flight seconds after I took this photograph and headed for the fields on the far side of the sea wall.
Curlew wading in the East Fleet at Wells-next-the-Sea
Curlew wading in the East Fleet at Wells-next-the-Sea

We had planned to walk to Holkham from Wells on New Year’s Eve and perhaps hop on the bus back, but given the windy, wet weather forecast for New Year’s Day, we changed our minds about that and drove to RSPB Titchwell instead. Titchwell is often our NYD haunt, but while it was windy at least it was dry.

The same BWS with another fish
The same Black-winged Stilt with another fish
Hawthorn Shield Bug that landed on Mrs Sciencebase rucksack while we were having a snack in between birding sessions.
Hawthorn Shield Bug that landed on Mrs Sciencebase rucksack while we were having a snack in between birding sessions.
Wren snacking on millipede while we were having a snack
Wren snacking on millipede while we were having a snack
The Eurasian Jay, Garrulus glandarius, one of the corvids. The blue on its wings is second only to the green on the nape of the Eider's neck
The Eurasian Jay, Garrulus glandarius, one of the corvids. The blue on its wings is second only to the green on the nape of the Common Eider’s neck
Ruff, Calidris pugnax
Ruff, Calidris pugnax, RSPB Titchwell
Black-winged Stilt standing out of the water showing off its magnificent legs
Black-winged Stilt standing out of the water showing off its magnificently long legs

I realise it’s not all about lists, but we recorded 60+ bird species on this trip. One of them new to us, that Long-billed Dowitcher. Titchwell was also the closest we’ve ever been to the rare Black-winged Stilt (a ringed specimen that had dropped in a couple of days before). Interesting to see that the reserve still has a Tawny Owl hiding in the same ivy-covered tree that we’d peered at on our previous visit to Titchwell earlier in 2024. We also noted a couple of species of fungi we’d not noted before – Scarlet Elf Cup and Candlesnuff.

Scarlet Elf Cup, Sarcoscypha coccinea
Scarlet Elf Cup, Sarcoscypha coccinea
Candlesnuff fungus, Xylaria hypoxylon a bioluminescent fungus, also known as carbon antlers or the stag's horn fungus.
Candlesnuff fungus, Xylaria hypoxylon, a bioluminescent fungus, also known as carbon antlers or the stag’s horn fungus.
  1. Avocet
  2. Black-headed Gull
  3. Black-tailed Godwit
  4. Blackbird
  5. Black-winged Stilt
  6. Blue Tit
  7. Brent Goose
  8. Buzzard
  9. Chaffinch
  10. Cetti’s Warbler
  11. Collared Dove
  12. Cormorant
  13. Curlew
  14. Dunnock
  15. Dunlin
  16. Gadwall
  17. Goldfinch
  18. Golden Plover
  19. Great Black-backed Gull
  20. Great Tit
  21. Greenfinch
  22. Grey Heron
  23. Greylag Goose
  24. Herring Gull
  25. Jackdaw
  26. Jay
  27. Kestrel
  28. Lapwing
  29. Lesser Black-backed Gull
  30. Linnet
  31. Little Egret
  32. Little Grebe
  33. Long-billed Dowitcher (New to me, 2024)
  34. Long-tailed Tit
  35. Magpie
  36. Mallard
  37. Marsh Harrier
  38. Moorhen
  39. Oystercatcher
  40. Pheasant
  41. Pink-footed Goose
  42. Pintail
  43. Red Kite
  44. Redshank
  45. Robin
  46. Rock Dove
  47. Ruff
  48. Sanderling
  49. Shelduck
  50. Shoveller
  51. Skylark
  52. Snipe
  53. Starling
  54. Stock Dove
  55. Stonechat
  56. Tawny Owl
  57. Teal
  58. Tufted Duck
  59. Turnstone
  60. Water Pipit
  61. Wigeon
  62. Wood Pigeon
  63. Wren

The Merlin app claims to have picked up Hawfinch, Firecrest, and Long-eared Owl at Titchwell. Fairly unlikely, but who knows?